Forefoot running vs. rearfoot running: Which style is better for joint health?
Does a person’s running style affect joint health? Is one approach better for fending off osteoarthritis than the other? According to new research from Peter C. Thurlow, MD, a radiology fellow at the University if Wisconsin in Madison, there were no significant differences in morphologic knee joint abnormalities between forefoot runners and rearfoot runners.
A RSNA Research Resident Grant funded the research. Thurlow recruited 16 forefoot runners, 24 rearfoot runners and 20 asymptomatic non-runners between the ages of 25 and 40. All participants had no history of knee pain, knee trauma, knee surgery or inflammatory/infectious joint disorders. Runners underwent a 3T MR exam and a biochemical gait analysis.
Overall, while research did confirm that forefoot running has certain “biomechanical benefits,” the imaging results showed that the two approaches are actually quite similar when it comes to affecting an athlete’s joint health.
“Our MRI results showed no benefits of forefoot running,” Thurlow said in a RSNA news release. “There was no significant difference in morphologic knee joint abnormalities on MRI including cartilage lesions, meniscus tears, and bone marrow edema lesions, and no significant difference in cartilage thickness measurements between forefoot runners and rearfoot runners.”
Thurlow, a runner himself, said he is looking forward to what researchers can do with these findings going forward.
“The idea that we can overlap biomechanics and advanced imaging to try to improve outcomes for athletes and the general population in hopes of limiting the development of osteoarthritis is very exciting,” Thurlow said in the same news release. “That’s the big target on everyone’s mind.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.